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Metaphors of God's Word
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod supplied His Word to us as a gift, a treasure that provides reliable knowledge from Him and about Him and His way of life. We must recognize the Bible as the living Word of God, capable of revealing everything we need to know about Him. Without it, we would be lost in a sea of information, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood or discern what holds importance. Reading with discernment and understanding is a vital Christian skill, one we must use and hone regularly in our lives. Jesus Christ Himself emphasizes the unique nature of His words, declaring them to be spirit and life. Unlike human words, His words are infused with His Spirit, emanating from a Spirit Being and carrying a supremely spiritual nature. They are living, producing more life—ultimately eternal life—when understood and followed by those who possess God's Spirit. His words are dynamic, not static, but lively, active, and powerful, working within us in various ways, whether we are aware of it or not. The Bible employs vivid metaphors to illustrate the dynamism of God's Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us internally by instructing our steps and externally by revealing dangers and pitfalls, exposing error and deceit so we may avoid temptation. It is likened to a medicine or tonic, promoting spiritual health by mortifying the flesh and energizing right living, requiring daily doses throughout our converted lives to maintain our path to the Kingdom of God. God's Word is compared to rain and snow, a catalyst that initiates and maintains a process of useful growth, producing fruit as God desires, never returning void but accomplishing what He intends. It is a fire and a hammer, consuming and crushing as agents of destruction against sin, yet also purifying like a refining fire to spur holy conduct. It is food that nourishes, with every word profitable, essential for true living, offering milk for the newborn and solid food for the mature, meeting us at every level of spiritual growth. As a sword of the Spirit, God's Word is a powerful weapon, striking at enemies with truth and piercing into our deepest recesses to judge and eradicate carnality and sin. Finally, it is an implanted seed, rooted deep within us by God, expected to produce much fruit leading to salvation, transforming us into His image through an incorruptible, life-giving force. God's Word, as divine breath, carries His power to equip us fully, providing teaching, rebuke, correction, and discipline for life in His Kingdom.
Appearing Before God (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhen God speaks, His words are never futile or useless. He never utters a word in vain. Genesis 1 shows what resulted from God speaking just a handful of sentences!
Appearing Before God (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGod's Word causes things to increase just as rain causes crops to increase, but the increase is not always numeric. Often, it is qualitative.
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEternal life is to live a quality life as God lives, having developed a close relationship with God, living by faith and accepting His sovereignty over all.
Hebrews (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe ancient Israelites resisted the gospel, refusing to mix it with actual obedience. What they heard never became a part of their lives; Egypt never left them.
Deuteronomy: Hearing
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBy listening, taking heed, and drinking in of God's Word daily, we take on the wisdom of God, upending and making foolish the wisdom of man.
Deuteronomy (Part 1)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughDeuteronomy is the heartbeat of the Old Testament and the constitution of Israel. It is a condensed form of the entire Bible, quoted 195 times in the New Testament.